Mendel: Extra Biology Credit
Dear Dad, I've been in the Monastary discoving the basic of genetics. I've been experimenting with my garden peas for the past couple of years. The organisms that are used as the original mating in an experiment (tall and short plant) are called the parental generation in abbreviation is the P generation which stands for parent. When I mated the two offsprings in the p generation, the offsprings are in the F1 generation. When I breed the F1 generation I ended up with the F2 generation. For the F1 generation I selected a six foot pea plant and a short pea plant and crossed them. In the F1 generation I noticed that all the offspring were tall and didin't even show short. In the F2 generation I crossed 2 tall pea plants and noticed that 3/4 of the offsprings were as tall as the tall plants in the P generation. I also noticed that 1/4 of the offspring were as short as the short plants in the P generation. I noticed that one trait kept disappearing in the F1 generation. I gave a capital letter to the trait which showed up in the first generation and the small letter to the trait which was hidden in the F1 generation. The trait that appeared in the F1 generation I called dominant and the traits that were hidden I called recessive. I observed that some tall plants crossed with each other showed both and tall and short offspring. I came to the conclusion that an organism may look
The Human Genome Project and its Moral and Ethical Consequences
The Human Genome Project and its Moral and Ethical Consequences The human genome project is a very delicate matter and has both its advantages and disadvantages. The majority of the advantages focus on the benefits, practicality and luxury of having the technology that comes with the genome project, whilst the majority of the disadvantages come with the moral and ethical arguments. This argument will most likely never come to a sound agreement but both sides have good reasons, for or against the genome project, which can be shared. The human genome project was set up to identify the genes in human DNA and determine the sequences of the chemical pairs that make up the human DNA. With this information they are able to create many medical benefits and improve technology greatly. With gene testing scientists would be able to clarify a diagnosis and direct the appropriate actions towards the patients as well as warning parents that they may have children with diseases and identifying people with high risk of preventable conditions. From the genome product scientists are developing gene therapy, and although it is still in its early stages, gene therapy will help cure or prevent disease by changing the expression of a person's gene. In the coming years the genome project will open up new possibilities that will help combat disease. By understanding the human genome,
Can snails become habituated to a stimulus
Can snails become habituated to a stimulus? Aim: To investigate habituation of snails to a stimulus. A snail only withdraws when it is either inactive or threatened. When touched, it withdraws to avoid danger. Do snails become habituated to the stimulus, ceasing to withdraw with repeated stimulation? In this investigation you will collect data to find out if habituation to a touch stimulus does occur in these organisms. I believe that as the experiment progresses the snails will become used to this stimulus (touch), at first the snails will be quick to respond but after maybe 8 touches it will not be as affected as it did at first. Apparatus One Giant African land snail Cotton bud Small container of water Stopwatch Table of results Procedure . Collect one giant African land snail and place it on a clean, firm surface. Wait for a few minutes until the snail has fully emerged from its shell and is used to its new surroundings. 2. Dampen a cotton wool bud with water. 3. Firmly touch the snail between the eye stalks with the dampened cotton wool bud and immediately start the stopwatch. Measure the length of time between the touch and the snail being fully emerged from its shell once again, with its eye stalks fully extended. 4. Repeat the procedure in step 3 for a total of ten touches, timing how long the snail takes to re-emerge each time. 5. Record your results in
The possibility of human cloning
Introduction The possibility of human cloning, raised when Scottish scientists at Roslin Institute created the much-celebrated sheep "Dolly" (Nature 385, 810-13, 1997), aroused worldwide interest and concern because of its scientific and ethical implications. The feat, cited by Science magazine as the breakthrough of 1997, also generated uncertainty over the meaning of "cloning" --an umbrella term traditionally used by scientists to describe different processes for duplicating biological material. What is cloning? Are there different types of cloning? When the media report on cloning in the news, they are usually talking about only one type called reproductive cloning. There are different types of cloning however, and cloning technologies can be used for other purposes besides producing the genetic twin of another organism. A basic understanding of the different types of cloning is key to taking an informed stance on current public policy issues and making the best possible personal decisions. The following three types of cloning technologies will be discussed: (1) recombinant DNA technology or DNA cloning, (2) reproductive cloning, and (3) therapeutic cloning. Recombinant DNA Technology or DNA Cloning The terms "recombinant DNA technology," "DNA cloning," "molecular cloning,"or "gene cloning" all refer to the same process: the transfer of a DNA fragment of interest
Problem - Maintaining the habitat of the capybara and breeding them for meat.
Problem - Maintaining the habitat of the capybara and breeding them for meat. The capybara (shown left 10) is currently classified as a common species in the 2000 IUCN Red List of threatened species. However, I have found through research that the number of capybara in the wild is declining, "Mortality from hunting is responsible for local extinctions or scarcity in many localities".1 Also this is confirmed by the statistic, "Today barely 100,000 capybaras are left in Venezuela". 2 The classification of the capybara as 'common' also means that people are unaware of the affect hunting will, and is having on the population of capybara living in the wild. The conservation of the capybara is overlooked by most people as it is considered a pest, due to its tendency to raid crops when fresh grazing is not available. The capybara has a great variety of habitats from forest and brush land to swamps, brackish mangrove areas and open savannah. The habitat needs to have all the components of water, dry ground on which to rest, grass and natural shelter1. These habitats are being destroyed by human activities, such as pollution of freshwater and the drainage of wetlands for agricultural use of the fertile soil, causing damage to the environment where the capybara seeks refuge from predators. Water is being abstracted for human usage increasing the threat to freshwater habitats.
World distribution and economic effects of AIDS
AIDS - Acquired immune deficiency syndrome World distribution and economic effects of AIDS AIDS was first diagnosed in the USA and although now a world wide pandemic, the main extent of the AIDS problem is concentrated in the continent of Africa, especially south of the Sahara desert. In 2004 30 million Africans were infected and living with AIDS, it is estimated that up to a third of central African are infected with the virus HIV. In other parts of the world the AIDS problem at this time is not so severe however the virus is spreading rapidly, especially in Russia and the former Soviet Union countries. In South East Asia the problem is growing the fastest, due to half the world's population living in that corner of the world. It is thought that by 2010 the AIDS problem in South East Asia will have dwarfed the problem in Africa. Currently in western MEDC countries the percentage of populations with AIDS is low in comparison and the percentage with AIDS is generally concentrated in needle injecting drug users and homosexuals. This lower infection rate is generally due to education, prevention schemes that cannot be afforded in other less wealthy countries and the availability of protective contraceptive methods. The main impact of AIDS in African countries is the reversal of much needed development. It is generally the working population that are being wiped out by AIDS
The negative portrayal of genetic advancements.
The Negative Portrayal of Genetic Advancements Every day scientists get one step closer to unraveling our genetic sequence. While this sounds beneficial, technology undoubtedly has a dark side as well. There is no denying the fact that science has extended and improved the lives of many, but it has also depersonalized them. People are often classified according to their disorders rather than their personalities or names. Furthermore, ethics and questions of morality must be addressed in order to handle some of the sticky issues that are created as a result of such advancements. Until recently, the topic of genetics has been practically non-existent. However, now procedures such as prenatal genetic screening have gone from occasional to routine (nine out of ten women usually have it).i Furthermore, this procedure that is "already designated as a "ritual" of pregnancy, at least for white, middle-class women in North America, is the most widespread application of genetic technology to humans today."ii Fields such as bio-ethics have been spawned from such practices, and medical journals and textbooks have been published to educate. But the information is by no means geared towards the common person. Instead, these resources have a very limited audience of those educated in the field in question. Therefore, the general public is unable to learn or keep up with the
Argument on Genetic Engineering.
Argument on Genetic Engineering Is genetic engineering acceptable when useful to human beings or even more, at least in some cases necessary or is it rather to be said illegal? Some authors and books show a very positive attitude toward genetic engineering. If parents can decide about the school of their children and their education and also support some of their children's talents then they can also be able to shape their child's personality and control its formation. Then should parents not have the right to make the decision of using genetic engineering instead of education? The achievement of genetic operation will result in a better quality of life for people. Nearly all diseases can possibly be cured. Cancer will be treated as cancer causing genetic defects will no longer be a problem. As a result of genetic testing, the prevention of risks is also a benefit. For instance, if I find that I am genetically liable to have a heart attack, I can reform my habits around my genetic characters. Or, if I know that I have a recessive gene for a disease, I will know not to have a child by another person with that gene. Also more than just medical benefits apply. If it is the result that genes open the power of the mind, than who is to say that someday people won't be able to hand pick their child and their qualities. Many people see this as an advantage. For example, before a
Meiosis. Before meiosis can happen, the DNA Must replicate, this is done in the stage of interphase. Following interphase the first stage of meiosis occur
Meiosis essay Meiosis is a reduction division which occurs in sexually reproducing organisms to produce gametes. It involves one division of the chromosomes followed by two divisions of the nucleus and cell. The diploid parent cell gives rise to four haploid daughter cells. Before meiosis can happen, the DNA Must replicate, this is done in the stage of interphase. Following interphase the first stage of meiosis occur, this is the reduction division and starts with prophase I. In early prophase I centrioles are at their respective poles and their spindle fibres start to grow. The chromosomes become more visible with a beaded appearance due to the centromeres. The chromosomes become more visible by coiling up and condensing. In mid prophase I the nucleolus had gone ant the chromosomes, which consist of two identical chromatids, come together in their bivalents. A bivalent is a pair of homologous chromosomes. Next in late prophase I the nuclear envelope disintegrates so the spindle fibres can attach to the centromeres. The chromosomes can now be seen as two chromatids. In this stage adjacent non-sister chromatids can cross over at the point of chiasma and exchange part of their genetic material. The Next stage of Meiosis is metaphase I. The bivalents arrange themselves on the equator in a random assortment. This random assortment leads to genetic variation. The spindle fibres
Mitosis and Meiosis
Elmaz Korimbocus Mitosis and Meiosis MITOSIS a) Examples of where mitosis occurs in the body: - cell division is essential for growth, repair and reproduction, and replacing dead cells such as skin cells. b) The genetic information for a cell is stored in the nucleus, which contains coil-like structures known as chromosomes. They contain the genetic information encoded in DNA, which enables the cell to carry out its functions. c) If a cell needs to make two exact copies of itself, its nucleus needs to divide in order to pass its information to the two daughter cells. So there needs to be two sets of identical genetic information. d) A human cell has 23 pairs of chromosomes. e) Interphase: * Normal cell growth and metabolic function. * Synthesis of DNA. * Each chromosome homolog replicates, so that each homolog consists of two sister chromatids. * Normal growth and function. Prophase: * Chromosomes coil and condense. * 2 sister chromatids attached at centromere. * Homologs not associated with one another. * Nucleolus disappears, nuclear membrane breaks down. * Centrioles (organelle important in mitosis, see below) duplicates, spindle fibers extend from centrioles. Metaphase: * Nuclear membrane disappears, chromosomes maximally condensed. * Spindle fibers attach to centromeres. * Centromeres move to equatorial plane: metaphase plate.
